EFL League One
Template:Short description Template:Use British English Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox football league The English Football League One, known as Sky Bet League One for sponsorship reasons, or simply League One, is a professional association football league in England. EFL League One is the second-highest division of the English Football League and the third tier overall in the English football league system, after the Premier League and the EFL Championship. It is contested by 24 clubs.
Introduced in the 2004–05 English football season as Football League One, it is a rebrand of the former Football League Second Division.
Burton Albion currently hold the longest tenure in the division following relegation from the Championship at the end of the 2017–18 season. There are nine former Premier League clubs currently competing in this division: Barnsley (1997–98), Blackpool (2010–11), Bolton Wanderers (1995–96, 1997–98, and 2001–12), Bradford City (1999–2001), Cardiff City (2013-14 and 2018-19), Huddersfield Town (2017–19), Luton Town (2023–24), Reading (2006–08 and 2012–13), and Wigan Athletic (2005–13).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Structure
There are 24 clubs in this division. Each club plays each of the others twice. Three points are awarded for a win, one for a draw, and none for a loss. At the end of the season a table of the final League standings is determined, based on the following criteria in this order: points obtained, goal difference, goals scored, an aggregate of the results between two or more clubs (ranked using the previous three criteria), most matches won, most goals scored away from home, fewest "penalty points" based on yellow and red cards received, followed by fewest straight red cards for certain offences. If two or more teams are still tied after examining all of these criteria, they will share the higher place between them. The only exception would be if the tied teams span the boundary between 2nd and 3rd, 6th and 7th, or 20th and 21st place, in which case one or more play-off matches would be arranged between the tied clubs.Template:CN
At the end of each season the top two clubs, together with the winner of the play-offs between the clubs which finished in the third to sixth positions, are promoted to the EFL Championship and are replaced by the three clubs that finished at the bottom of that division.
Similarly, the four clubs that finished at the bottom of EFL League One are relegated to EFL League Two and are replaced by the top three clubs and the club that won the fourth to seventh place play-offs in that division.
Current members
- Note: Table lists in alphabetical order.
Teams promoted from League One
Play-off results
Relegated teams
Template:Note labelExpelled in August 2019 after financial breaches.
Top scorers
Template:Note labelIn 35 games. Season truncated because of coronavirus.
Attendances

EFL League One is the most-watched third-tier domestic sports league in the world, with an average of 10,613 spectators per game in the 2022–23 season, also making it one of the top ten most watched leagues in Europe.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The closest third-tier association football league in terms of average attendance is the Germany 3. Liga (8,219).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
The highest average attendance since the restructure into League One was the 2022–23 season, when over 5.3 million spectators watched games, with an average of 10,613 per game. The highest average attendance by a single club was Sunderland in the 2018–19 season with 32,157. They also set the League One attendance record for a single game in the same season, when 46,039 spectators attended the Boxing Day game against Bradford City.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
| Season | League Average Attendance | Highest Average | Highest Attendance | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Club | Attendance | Game | Attendance | ||
| 2004–05 | 7,732 | Sheffield Wednesday | 23,100 <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | Sheffield Wednesday vs Bristol City | 28,798 |
| 2005–06 | 7,578 | Nottingham Forest | 20,257 <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | Nottingham Forest v Bournemouth | 26,847 |
| 2006–07 | 7,486 | Nottingham Forest | 20,627 <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | Nottingham Forest v Rotherham United | 27,875 |
| 2007–08 | 7,985 | Leeds United | 26,546 <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | Leeds United v Gillingham | 38,256 |
| 2008–09 | 7,551 | Leeds United | 23,639 <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | ||
| 2009–10 | 9,136 | Leeds United | 24,818 <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | Leeds United v Bristol Rovers | 38,234 |
| 2010–11 | 7,519 | Southampton | 22,161 <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | Southampton v Walsall | 31,653 |
| 2011–12 | 7,358 | Sheffield Wednesday | 21,336 <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | Sheffield Wednesday v Wycombe Wanderers | 38,082 |
| 2012–13 | 6,335 | Sheffield United | 18,612 <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | Sheffield United v Brentford | 23,431 |
| 2013–14 | 7,476 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 20,879 <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | Wolverhampton Wanderers v Rotherham United | 30,110 |
| 2014–15 | 7,037 | Sheffield United | 19,805 <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | Coventry City v Gillingham | 27,306 |
| 2015–16 | 7,163 | Sheffield United | 19,803 <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | Sheffield United v Bradford City | 24,777 |
| 2016–17 | 7,933 | Sheffield United | 21,892 <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | Sheffield United v Chesterfield | 31,003 |
| 2017–18 | 7,805 | Bradford City | 19,787 <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | Blackburn Rovers v Oxford United | 27,600 |
| 2018–19 | 8,741 | Sunderland | 32,157 <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | Sunderland v Bradford City | 46,039 |
| 2019–20 | 8,802 | Sunderland | 30,118 <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | Sunderland v Bolton Wanderers | 33,821 |
| 2020–21 | No attendances because of COVID-19 pandemic | ||||
| 2021–22 | 9,953 | Sunderland | 30,847 <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | Sunderland v Doncaster Rovers | 38,395 |
| 2022–23 | 10,613 | Derby County | 27,259 | Sheffield Wednesday v Plymouth Argyle | 33,442 |
| 2023–24 | 9,711 | Derby County | 27,278 | Derby County v Bolton Wanderers | 32,538 |
| 2024–25 | 10,040 | Birmingham City | 26,283<ref> Template:Cite web</ref> | Birmingham City v Reading | 27,985 |
Historic performance
Since the restructuring into League One in 2004, 78 teams have spent at least one season in the division, including 7 of the 20 teams in the 2025–26 Premier League. Milton Keynes Dons has spent 15 seasons in League One, the most of any team. Oldham Athletic's single 14-season consecutive spell was the longest of any team. The team with the current longest tenure is Burton Albion, who will be in their eighth consecutive season in the division, having been in League One since the 2018–19 season. Rotherham United have had the highest number of separate spells in League One with six. There have been 18 different Champions of League One, with Wigan Athletic having won the division three times.
Key
- Template:Legend2 Template:Dagger Teams with this background and symbol in the "Club" column will be competing in the 2025–26 EFL League One
- Template:Legend2 Template:Double-dagger Team will be competing in the 2025–26 Premier League
- Template:Legend2 The club competed in League One during that season (the number is the club's final league position)
| Club | Total Seasons | Number of Spells | Longest Spell (Seasons) | Highest Position | Lowest Position | Season | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Accrington Stanley | 5 | 1 | 5 | 11 | 23 | 14 | 17 | 11 | 12 | 23 | |||||||||||||||||
| AFC Bournemouth Template:Double-dagger | 7 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 21 | 8 | 17 | 19 | 21 | 6 | 11 | 2 | |||||||||||||||
| AFC Wimbledon Template:Dagger | 7 | 2 | 6 | 15 | 23 | 15 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 23 | ||||||||||||||||
| Barnsley Template:Dagger | 9 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 13 | 13 | 5 | 11 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 12 | ||||||||||||||
| Birmingham City | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Blackburn Rovers | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Blackpool Template:Dagger | 11 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 22 | 16 | 19 | 3 | 22 | 12 | 10 | 13 | 3 | 8 | 9 | ||||||||||||
| Bolton Wanderers Template:Dagger | 7 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 23 | 2 | 23 | 9 | 5 | 3 | 8 | ||||||||||||||||
| Bradford City Template:Dagger | 10 | 3 | 6 | 5 | 24 | 11 | 11 | 22 | 11 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 11 | 24 | |||||||||||||
| Brentford Template:Double-dagger | 8 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 24 | 4 | 3 | 24 | 9 | 11 | 9 | 3 | 2 | ||||||||||||||
| Brighton & Hove Albion Template:Double-dagger | 5 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 18 | 18 | 7 | 16 | 13 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
| Bristol City | 5 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 12 | 7 | 9 | 2 | 12 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
| Bristol Rovers | 12 | 3 | 5 | 10 | 24 | 16 | 11 | 11 | 22 | 10 | 13 | 15 | 14 | 24 | 17 | 15 | 22 | ||||||||||
| Burton Albion Template:Dagger | 9 | 2 | 8 | 2 | 20 | 2 | 9 | 12 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 20 | 20 | ||||||||||||||
| Bury | 6 | 3 | 3 | 14 | 24 | 14 | 22 | 16 | 19 | 24 | 24Template:Efn | ||||||||||||||||
| Cambridge United | 4 | 1 | 4 | 14 | 23 | 14 | 20 | 18 | 23 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Cardiff City Template:Dagger | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Carlisle United | 9 | 2 | 8 | 4 | 24 | 8 | 4 | 20 | 14 | 12 | 8 | 17 | 22 | 24 | |||||||||||||
| Charlton Athletic | 10 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 16 | 4 | 13 | 1 | 13 | 6 | 3 | 7 | 13 | 10 | 16 | 4 | |||||||||||
| Cheltenham Town | 6 | 2 | 3 | 15 | 23 | 17 | 19 | 23 | 15 | 16 | 21 | ||||||||||||||||
| Chesterfield | 7 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 24 | 17 | 16 | 21 | 22 | 6 | 18 | 24 | |||||||||||||||
| Colchester United | 10 | 2 | 8 | 2 | 23 | 15 | 2 | 12 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 20 | 16 | 19 | 23 | ||||||||||||
| Coventry City | 7 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 23 | 15 | 18 | 17 | 8 | 23 | 8 | 1 | |||||||||||||||
| Crawley Town | 4 | 2 | 3 | 10 | 22 | 10 | 14 | 22 | 21 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Crewe Alexandra | 9 | 3 | 4 | 12 | 24 | 13 | 20 | 22 | 13 | 19 | 20 | 24 | 12 | 24 | |||||||||||||
| Dagenham & Redbridge | 1 | 1 | 2 | 21 | 21 | 21 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Derby County | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 7 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Doncaster Rovers Template:Dagger | 13 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 22 | 10 | 8 | 11 | 3 | 1 | 13 | 21 | 15 | 6 | 9 | 14 | 22 | ||||||||||
| Exeter City Template:Dagger | 7 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 23 | 18 | 8 | 23 | 14 | 13 | 16 | ||||||||||||||||
| Fleetwood Town | 10 | 1 | 10 | 4 | 22 | 10 | 19 | 4 | 14 | 11 | 6 | 15 | 20 | 13 | 22 | ||||||||||||
| Forest Green Rovers | 1 | 1 | 1 | 24 | 24 | 24 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Gillingham | 13 | 3 | 9 | 9 | 22 | 14 | 16 | 22 | 21 | 17 | 12 | 9 | 20 | 17 | 13 | 10 | 10 | 21 | |||||||||
| Hartlepool United | 8 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 23 | 6 | 21 | 15 | 19 | 20 | 16 | 13 | 23 | ||||||||||||||
| Hereford United | 1 | 1 | 1 | 24 | 24 | 24 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Huddersfield Town Template:Dagger | 10 | 2 | 8 | 3 | 15 | 9 | 4 | 15 | 10 | 9 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 10 | |||||||||||||
| Hull City | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Ipswich Town | 4 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 11 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Leeds United Template:Double dagger | 3 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Leicester City | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Leyton Orient Template:Dagger | 12 | 2 | 9 | 3 | 23 | 20 | 14 | 14 | 17 | 7 | 20 | 7 | 3 | 23 | 11 | 6 | |||||||||||
| Lincoln City Template:Dagger | 7 | 1 | 7 | 5 | 17 | 16 | 5 | 17 | 11 | 7 | 11 | ||||||||||||||||
| Luton Town Template:Dagger | 4 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 24 | 1 | 24 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Mansfield Town Template:Dagger | 2 | 1 | 2 | 17 | 17 | 17 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Millwall | 6 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 17 | 10 | 17 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||
| MK Dons | 15 | 4 | 7 | 2 | 23 | 20 | 22 | 3 | 12 | 5 | 5 | 8 | 10 | 2 | 12 | 23 | 19 | 13 | 3 | 21 | |||||||
| Morecambe | 2 | 1 | 2 | 19 | 22 | 19 | 22 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Northampton Town Template:Dagger | 9 | 4 | 3 | 9 | 22 | 14 | 9 | 21 | 16 | 22 | 22 | 14 | 19 | ||||||||||||||
| Norwich City | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Nottingham Forest Template:Double-dagger | 3 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 7 | 4 | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Notts County | 5 | 1 | 5 | 7 | 21 | 19 | 7 | 12 | 20 | 21 | |||||||||||||||||
| Oldham Athletic | 14 | 1 | 14 | 6 | 21 | 19 | 10 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 19 | 15 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 21 | ||||||||
| Oxford United | 8 | 1 | 8 | 4 | 19 | 8 | 16 | 12 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 19 | 5 | ||||||||||||||
| Peterborough United Template:Dagger | 15 | 5 | 8 | 2 | 23 | 23 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 9 | 13 | 11 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 2 | 6 | 4 | 18 | ||||||||
| Plymouth Argyle Template:Dagger | 7 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 23 | 23 | 7 | 21 | 18 | 7 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||
| Port Vale Template:Dagger | 11 | 4 | 4 | 9 | 23 | 18 | 13 | 12 | 23 | 9 | 18 | 12 | 21 | 18 | 23 | ||||||||||||
| Portsmouth | 8 | 2 | 7 | 1 | 24 | 24 | 8 | 4 | 5 | 8 | 10 | 8 | 1 | ||||||||||||||
| Preston North End | 4 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 5 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Reading Template:Dagger | 3 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 17 | 17 | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Rochdale | 9 | 2 | 7 | 8 | 24 | 9 | 24 | 8 | 10 | 9 | 20 | 16 | 18 | 21 | |||||||||||||
| Rotherham United Template:Dagger | 8 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 23 | 20 | 23 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 13 | |||||||||||||||
| Scunthorpe United | 10 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 23 | 12 | 1 | 6 | 18 | 21 | 16 | 7 | 3 | 5 | 23 | ||||||||||||
| Sheffield United | 6 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 11 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 5 | 11 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||
| Sheffield Wednesday | 5 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 15 | 5 | 15 | 2 | 4 | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
| Shrewsbury Town | 12 | 2 | 10 | 3 | 24 | 16 | 24 | 20 | 18 | 3 | 18 | 15 | 17 | 18 | 12 | 19 | 24 | ||||||||||
| Southampton | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 7 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Southend United | 9 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 23 | 1 | 6 | 8 | 23 | 14 | 7 | 10 | 19 | 22 | |||||||||||||
| Stevenage Template:Dagger | 6 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 24 | 6 | 18 | 24 | 9 | 14 | |||||||||||||||||
| Stockport County Template:Dagger | 5 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 24 | 24 | 18 | 24 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Sunderland Template:Double dagger | 4 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 5 | 8 | 4 | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Swansea City | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Swindon Town | 12 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 24 | 12 | 23 | 13 | 15 | 5 | 24 | 6 | 8 | 4 | 15 | 22 | 23 | ||||||||||
| Torquay United | 1 | 1 | 1 | 21 | 21 | 21 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Tranmere Rovers | 11 | 2 | 10 | 3 | 21 | 3 | 18 | 9 | 11 | 7 | 19 | 18 | 12 | 11 | 21 | 21 | |||||||||||
| Walsall | 14 | 2 | 12 | 3 | 24 | 14 | 24 | 12 | 13 | 10 | 20 | 19 | 9 | 13 | 14 | 3 | 14 | 19 | 22 | ||||||||
| Wigan Athletic Template:Dagger | 7 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 20 | 1 | 1 | 20 | 1 | 12 | 15 | ||||||||||||||||
| Wolverhampton Wanderers Template:Double-dagger | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Wrexham | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 22 | 22 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Wycombe Wanderers Template:Dagger | 9 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 17 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 10 | 5 | ||||||||||||||
| Yeovil Town | 9 | 2 | 8 | 4 | 24 | 15 | 5 | 18 | 17 | 15 | 14 | 17 | 4 | 24 | |||||||||||||
Financial Fair Play
Beginning with the 2012–13 season, a Financial Fair Play arrangement has been in place in all three divisions of the Football League, the intention being eventually to produce a league of financially self-sustaining clubs. In League One, this takes the form of a Salary Cost Management Protocol in which a maximum of 60% of a club's turnover may be spent on players' wages, with sanctions being applied in the form of transfer embargoes.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
See also
- 1920–21 (as Football League Division Three)
- 1921–22 & 1957–58 (as Football League Division Three North/South)
- 1958–59 & 1992–93 (as Football League Division Three)
- 1992–93 & 2003–04 (as Football League Division Two)
- List of professional sports teams in the United Kingdom
Footnotes
References
External links
- Template:Official website
- EFL League One clubs' locations
- England League One – Predictions, Tips, Statistics
Template:Navbox Template:EFL League One seasons Template:EFL League One play-offs Template:Football in England table cells Template:UEFA third leagues